DOMINION UNEMPLOYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20767, 9 January 1931, Page 13

DOMINION UNEMPLOYED

REGISTRATIONS DECREASE. FLUCTUATING FIGURES. POSITION IN AUCKLAND. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. As the result of efforts by the Unemployment Board and the local committees throughout the Dominion there was a large decrease in the unemployment registration figures at the Labour Department's Bureaux for the week ended December 29. The total for the Dominion on that date was 7596, as against 11,371 for the previous week, and 11,442 for the week ended December 15.

The figures for the main centres were as follows, those with dependants being given first and those without in parentheses Auckland, 978 (614); Wellington, 583 ( 393); Christchurch, 655 (481); Dunedin, 273 (187); Invercargill, 133 (33). The following are the totals for the centres, the previous week's figures being given in parentheses Auckland, 1592 (3113); Wellington, 975 (1735); Christchurch, 1136 (1835); Dunedin, 460 (628) ; Invercargill, 196 (192). For the week ended January 5 the number rose again to 8705, an increase of 1107 over the previous week. The following are the returns from the main centres, those with dependants being given first and those without in parentheses:—Auckland, 841 (736); Wellington, 1084 (776) ; Christchurch, 871 (510) ; Dunedin, 319 (162) ; Invercargill, 89 (54). The totals were: Auckland, 1577; Wellington, 1860; Christchurch, 1381; Punedin, 491; and Invercargill, 143. POSITION OF SINGLE MEN. MORE ASSISTANCE WANTED. A deputation of unemployed men waited upon the Relief Committee of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday to ask that increased assistance should be granted to unemployed single men, many of whom were stated to be in desperate circumstances. The deputation pointed out that the committee's practice of giving preference to married men, while commendable as far as it went, was causing distress among the single men, some of whom had nowhere to sleep and no food. The chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr. W. Wallace, stated last evening that single men were applying for assistance in increasing numbers. Many of them were capable young fellows, well above the average in education, who wore unable to obtain work. A great many of them had been discharged from employment as a result of public and private retrenchment. The problem of giving relief to people in distressed circumstances was growing week by week, and the Hospital Board was receiving no assistance from the LTnemployment Board, said Mr. Wallace. It was possible the Hospital Board might be able to do something in the way of giving more food, and an effort would be made to reopen Manna House, which had been conducted in Cook Street by the Presbyterian Social Service Association from May to September. GATHERING GRASS SEED. SCOPE AT PAPATOETOE. The copious growth of cocksfoot grass in the vicinity of Papatoetoe would appear lo have been overlooked by the unemi ployed in and around Auckland who have 1 recently been gathering grass seed as a means of earning a little money. Cocksfoot is particularly plentiful near Papa--1 toetoe, the steins being over 3ft. high and heavily laden with seed. | The president of the Papatoetoe Cliain- | bcr of Commerce, Mr. 11. C. Ernest, said ' yesterday that unemployed men were walking miles on the outskirts of the city in search of seed-bearing grasses, while 'the roadsides and fields of Papatoetoe were covered with a luxuriant growth of cocksfoot and paspalum, which would employ dozens of men for several days. SCHEME AT HAMILTON. NEW COURTHOUSE GROUNDS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Thursday. The laying-out of the grounds of the new Hamilton Courthouse was commenced by the Public Works Department this morning, when a gang of eight men were engaged on formation work. In addition, 14 men from the ranks of the local unemployed have been given work on the grounds, and the Labour Department hopes to be able to place more men when the work is under way. The Mayor. Mr. J R. Fow, stated to-day that he | was endeavouring to arrange a conference with Mr. G. Finn, of Auckland, a member of the Unemployment Board, to discuss the serious position regarding the local unemployed. Mr. Fow said Hamilton had more than enough for its unemployed and it would hardly be possible for tlie borough to raise any more loans. Ho considered that, the Government should relieve the posi fion as early as possible with a straightout grant. RELIEF ROAD WORKS. GRANTS BY GOVERNMENT. [BV TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION-] WELLIN'GTON, Thuradn y. Several grants for unemployment relief roading works were approved by the Cabinet to-day, the total amount voted being £6250. The sum of £ISOO was authorised to be spent on (he Kururau Road, in the launiarunui County. Attention is also to be given to the Opotiki-Matawai Road, in the Tauranga district, and £I7OO was authorised for this purpose. 'I he formation of the road from Hicks Bay to Runaway is to be carried out, and £IBOO was authorised for the work. POSITION IN INVERCARGILL. PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE MADE. [UY TELEGRAPH. PIIESS ASSOCIATION-] INVERCARGILL. Thursday. Two hundred and fifty unemployed, re presenting with then dependants about, ICOO people, met to-day to discuss their position. The meeting decided to appoint a deputation to wait on the Hon. P. A. de la Perelle in Invercargill on Friday morning when the unemployed will assemble in the Post Office Square. "Work must be rationed," said Mr T. O'Byrne, a member of the City Council, in addressing the meeting. "We are lieiv to show (lie Government, the Unemployment Board and the people of N'ew Zealand that we are in desperate straits. While your wives and families :ire in need of food and clothing nothing is being done. I am a member of the local unemployment committee and we can offer you nothing. We havo heard nothing from the board. Whefhpr Ihe members are still on their holidays or not .1 cannot say. It, was decided to make representations to the Government and the Unemployment Board pointing out the distress that exists as a result of unemployment in Southland and urging immediate financial assistance.